Safety attachment for pocketbooks, etc.



March 1, 1927. 1,619,644

0. WETZEL SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR POCKET BOOKS, mo

' Filed April 16, 1926.

' J'karles Wigel INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

i A UNITED STATES CHARLES WETZEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR POGKETBOOKS, ETC.

Application filed April 16, 1926. Serial No. 102,504.

This invention relates to attachments for pocketbooks wallets, bank books and other articles of a similar nature whereby'to prevent them from falling accidentally out of the pocket and also to prevent them from being abstracted by a pickpocket.

An important object is the provision of a safety device of this character which is carried by a rubber band which may be easily snapped about the article to be protected.

Another object is the provision of a de vice of this character which automatically catches in the pocket in case the article has any tendency to fall out or in case attempt is made to withdraw it, the construction being, however, such that the owner may reach in his pocket and by grasping the device properly effect the removal of the article without its catching in the pocket.

An additional object is the provision of an attachment of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly efficient in use, durable in service and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompany ng drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device applied to an article showing it in normal position,

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a pocket showin an article therein held by the device an showing the action in case an attempt is made to abstract the article,

Figure 3 is a view showing the operation of removing the article from the pocket when equipped with the device,

Figure 4: is a detail view looking at the inside of the band,

Figure 5 is an elevation of a modified form.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the letter A designates an article. to be held within a pocket B which may be the coat pocket of the wearer. The article is here represented as being a note book though it might just as well be a wallet, bank book, pocketbook, sheaf of papers or anything else which it is desired to protect against loss.

In carrying out my invention I provide an elastic band 10 adapted to be snapped about PATENT OFFICE.

the pocket book or other article. On the coincident with the sides of which are slits 13 which define short tongues 14 which are deflected outwardly and vulcanized or other- 'vise secured to the opposite edges of, the band as clearly shown in Figure 2. Secured upon the outer side of the band opposite the strips 11 are cruciform members 15 which are likewise formed of rubber and which include lateral extensions 16 and wings 17.

These members are secured upon the .band

by any desired means, the body and the extensions 16 both being secured while the wvings 17 are naturally free. The ends ofthe tongues 14 above referred to engage against these wings 17 at their junctures with the band and operate to bow the wings outwardly away from the band as clearly illustrated. Carried by the wings at the inner faces thereof are prongs or tines '18 which face in opposite directions as shown.

Assuming that the device has been applied to an article the article is placed in the pocket in the ordinary manner except that the owner must place his thumb and one finger against the outer sides of the two lower wings 17 to prevent the wings from catching in the pocket. After the device is properly positioned in the pocket, the operator withdraws his hand and the article will remain within the pocket and be prevented from loss for the following reasons. In case of a jolt or any action which may cause the article to slip out of the pocket, or in case a pickpocket attempts to abstract the article, the wings 17 will rub against the side of the pocket and the tines or prongs 18 will stick into the fabric of the pocket. The resultant twisting of the band causes the band to grip the article more firmly than vever so that the article cannot he slipped out of the band any more than the device can be pulled out of the pocket except of course by exercising such violent force as will easily attract the attention of the owner. When the owner intends to remove the article from his pocket he must engage his thumb and one finger against the two upper wings and hold them against the article while he effects the removal from the pocket.

In some instances it may not be necessary to provide the: safety device at both sides of the band, as for instance, when the protector is applied to rather large envelopes, books or the like. In such instances it is possible to dispense with one of the devices as indicated in the modified form in which the band19 is much smaller and equipped with a strip 20 which extends beyond only one side thereof and which is formed with the same opening and a corresponding tongue 21 as in the first described form. In this variation use is made of only one wing 22 se cured upon the band as'in the same manner above described and carrying a prong or time 23.: The operation is of course the same 7 From the foregoing description and astudy of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and consequently inexpensive and easily'handled protective device which will efiiciently perform the functions for which it is intended. 7

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form,

construction: and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

posite directions, and nieansfor' forcing the wings outwardlywitlr respect to the band, consisting of tongues on the strips engaging against the: wings at their" junctures VV'ltlJL the band.

2. A device of the character. described comprising a flexible band adapted to bee engaged about an articleto be heldwithim the pocket, transverse rubber strips. secuazedu upon the inner side of the band formed with central openings and tongues-Hatithei sides ofvthe openings, flexible memberswse cured upon the outside. of the bandl oppo ing wings carryingprongs, said tonguesrbe ing disposed outwardly of the edges ofithe" band and: engaging said: wings: for forcing the latter outwardly.

In testimony whereofI affix m'ysignatulre,

' CHARLES 

